Retaliation case over machine guns, DA, in court today

A whistleblower case involving the firing of a Caddo District Court investigator is on the docket today as Judge Daniel Ellender of Monroe addresses pretrial matters and becomes acquainted with the case. Don Ashley, who says he was terminated after checking into the alleged purchase of machine guns by the DA's office in his role as an investigator there, is suing his former employer, Caddo District Attorney Charles Scott, for damages, backpay, benefits and reinstatement.

As The Times previously reported, Ashley learned between 2009 and 2011 that certain Caddo assistant district attorneys were engaging in what he called "unorthodox" police-like behavior. In a document filed with the court, Ashley alleges the prosecutors -- who apparently outfitted their vehicles with lights and sirens, made stops, and wore SWAT-type clothing during work hours -- were motivated by "the desire to be policemen rather than ADAs." In 2012, Ashley became aware that the DA's office purchased eight M-16 fully automatic weapons, an acquisition the Caddo Parish Sheriff's office said was illegal.

Ashley, who allegedly reported these findings to Scott, his supervisor, was ultimately fired, apparently for having "gone outside the office" by disclosing the information to Sheriff Steve Prator. This, Ashley argues, was a violation of Louisiana's whistleblower law.

A report by the state inspector general released in July 2012 found the purchasing of the machine guns legal but identified two ADAs, Hugo Holland and Lea Hall, Jr., as having admitted to "inaccuracies" on the paperwork required to obtain the weapons. Scott defended the purchases on the grounds that guns are sometimes necessary to protect ADAs involved in police actions.

Judge Ellender was brought in to preside over Ashley's civil case because all the Caddo District court attorneys recused themselves in the matter.

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